Customer Ratings & Reviews

I had been looking to replace a home theatre system with something not so bulky and still comparable sound. I narrowed it down to the Bose 300 soundbar and sub (sold separately) and the definitive tech micro soundbar. Both sounded good in the store but not wow (I'm sure if I got either home I would have been pleased). I ended up still looking and saw this JBL 3.1 system with included 10" sub. In reading the reviews, it was rated well for both very clear highs and room-rattling bass. Not to mention much less than the bose and slightly less than the definitive tech. I ended up choosing this because of the 10' sub honestly, but it was a great choice. I love feeling my movies and this system delivers this, plus you can adjust the base with the remote from none to holy sh*$. It is simple to set up, one cable, and easy to use. It was harder to figure out how to set my TV to the appropriate audio output. ABOVE ALL, the sound of the soundbar+sub is OUTSTANDING.

As a young teen back in the days, we all turned to JBL as our go to choice for car subwoofers.. Always known for handling extreme bass in a clean and accurate manner.. This system goes back to those days of glory.. It was a toss up between Klipsch and this one.. I did not want the normal brands such as Samsung, Sony etc.. ive been through those and it was time to elevate.. This system in store had me looking in to heaven when it came to Bass, so I knew it would definitely do the job in my home.. She did not disappoint. I have a big great room that is opened in to the kitchen and she pounds.. if i turn the bass up, you can feel the house shake. I had to actually turn the bass down ! im not used to that since every other soundbar I've had required me to max the bass.. Now I will admit that the Klipsch did have better highs, but lacked in bass... The JBL excels above expectation in the bass area while doing a good job with the highs Only Neg is that JBL has a wireless 5.1 system on its way soon... My dilemma is keeping this one or bringing it back in time for the other.. Or maybe i will take this one to the bedroom and the get the 5.1 for the great room.. BUT THE BASS MAY BLOW ME OUT OF MY BED.. :) GET THIS SYSTEM IF YOUR A BASS LOVER LIKE ME !

Awesome sound. The remote could be designed better. The set up was effortless. Biggest issue is sound cutoff. Occasionally it cuts off at quiet parts in shows on the TV.

Let me start off by saying that I am not an expert when it comes to sound systems, however, I do not settle for average electronics and I do my research and in store testing before making a purchasing decision. I had an itch to update my 3 year old Sony sound bar which by the way sounds pretty good but was lacking that cinematic sounding punch! So since I own and love Samsung TV's I thought I would match my series 8500 with a better sound bar. I purchased the M450 sound bar which features the 2.1 setup has 4 built in speakers & one 7" subwoofer that puts out 320W total output. Already by specs alone this had my current Sony sound bar left in the dust. Brought it home and my 1st impression was a disappointment. It sounded flat and had very minimal bass. I even had to check several times to make sure it was plugged in. I played with all the settings and despite wanted to support Samsung products, I could not live with a product that cost more and performed less than my current Sony sound bar. Back to Best Buy I go and test a few other sound bars and decided to give Samsung one more chance. I upgraded to the M550 which features the 3.1 set up and comes with 6 built in speakers and the same 7" woofer also increasing the output to 340W. Okay, I paid $100 extra for this unit but I was determined to stay with Samsung and keep my overall expenses under $300, which I did. I connected everything and configured the set up, it was a slight improvement over the M450, and however, once again, something is missing?!?! Although more sound was apparent because of the middle speakers, it still had a flat sound to it and what the heck is up with this subwoofer? It lacked punch, clarity, and at times seemed like it was not on. At this point, I was convinced that Samsung should only stick to making TV's, Blu-ray players and maybe some appliances. They have no business making sound system because from what I have seen and experienced, they are horrible. I did some more research on Best Buy's site and narrowed my selection based on price, specs and reviews to the JBL 2.1 & 3.1 sound bars. I was ready to exchange my Samsung yet again for the 2.1 JBL and noticed the price for the 3.1 was on special for $399 and had a feeling this was going to be a winner. I went home and again plugged everything in and crossed my fingers. SUCCESS!!! The difference was night and day compared to anything I have purchase in the past. Clear and crisp sound came out from the 9 speaker sound bar and a clean smooth thump from the subwoofer located next to my sofa. I was extremely impressed and instantly became a JBL fan! The real test came when my 4 year old daughter kept looking up at me as she was playing with her dolls in the living room asking who was walking in the house. I told her it is coming from the TV, she was still confused. Then she looked around and asked who is downstairs talking? Again, I told her it is the TV, and then the thumb! She ran and jumped on me (no joke) and said it is thundering outside... Yup, I selected a winner!

I bought the JBL Bar 3.1 after returning a Sony 2.1 sound bar obtained for a new Sony 4k TV my wife and I had recently purchased. The main idea was to better understand dialog but also to enjoy enhanced performance from movies and music. The Sony was “ok” but didn’t give us enough improvement to justify keeping it. While the JBL was just about double the cost, I feel it is worth it. Here’s why. - The center channel (3.1 vs 2.1) gives more presence and can help emphasize dialog (note: center channel only seems to operate in “Surround” mode). - The preset modes (Standard, Movie, Music, Voice, Sports) are more flexible and noticeable than on the Sony. “Voice” mode works well for speech when listening to news and most TV shows – try it with and without “Surround” on. - Most reviews gush about the subwoofer. I’m not a big fan of overemphasized (read: “boomy”) bass – I prefer tight proportionate low end. Fortunately, the (big & heavy) subwoofer can deliver this. Bass is separately adjustable with dedicated “+/-“ buttons and can be set anywhere from subtle to apocalyptic. - There is a display behind the grill that displays quite a bit of information. It is not constantly on (a good thing), but will indicate the selected source, volume level, bass level, sound mode, and more. - In addition to the HDMI (ARC) output, there are three additional HDMI inputs plus a USB port (apparently, just for playing music files). - And, of course there is the sound. Some reviews complain about a lack of midrange, but I do not notice that. For full disclosure, my ears are > 70 years old, so I’d guess my high frequency hearing has fallen off some and that might make the midrange more noticeable to me. Anyway, I find the sound accurate and pleasing. I’ve enjoyed listening to my iPod (via Bluetooth) through the sound bar and everything from Hendrix to Handel sounds just fine. Be aware that you may not get a fair evaluation in the store. My Best Buy did not have the unit set up so you could really evaluate it. For one thing, there was no way to engage the various presets nor the surround mode so there wasn’t a way to hear it with the center channel operational. Basically, I just took a chance and it worked out for me (I also knew that there was a good return policy). Five stars.

I've been wanting to add a sound-bar to my TV for a while. My issue was spending the money to get the sound I wanted. I'm pretty picky and not easily satisfied. I really like the Bose Soundtouch 300 system, but at $1400, I just couldn't justify it. While browsing the Best Buy website I found this guy, saw the very high reviews and ordered it. I rarely order anything without hearing/seeing it in person but due to a savings on an open box unit I went for it. While I was waiting for it to be delivered I starting reading the negative reviews. This got me a bit nervous as I am a bit of an audio snob. It's what I do for a living. I decided then to give it a shot and if it wasn't good enough I would just return it and bite the bullet on the Bose system. Well, after setting it up, and setting up my TV to work with it correctly, it is very good. My only assumption is that most people who are unhappy with it don't have it configured correctly. Here are a few tips. My xfinity box had a default audio output setting of stereo. This is great for hooking up to your TV or a 2.1 sound-bar, but not a 3.1 or higher. You have to change that setting or you will not get the full benefits of this sound bar (or the center channel). I assume most other TV providers are set the same way. I also made sure my TV's audio settings were set up for Dolby as I'm using the ARC port from my TV to the sound-bar. This sound-bar did not sound nearly as good until I made these changes. I hope this helps someone who is unhappy. This is a great unit at $500. At the new lower price of $400 it's a no brainer. Buy it.

I had bought a samsung K550 2.1 sound bar and thought it was good.... till i heard the JBL 3.1 Bar. The JBL bar benifit s from the center channel speaker making it sound better and clearer than the samsung. When you hear people talking it doesn't sound muffled like the samsung did. I also had a chance to play music and OMG... It literally shook my living room. Me and my wife looked at each other and she saw I was very happy with my purchase.

I spend a good amount of time looking for a sound bar that with a good sound and deep bass. I thought about buying the Sony 7.1.2 after my uncle bought one back in December. I found an open box for around 800. I totally think that to spend over 1000 on a sound bar is crazy. After researching and YouTube Videos. I finally decide to buy this JBL 3.1 and I will explain to you why. This sound bar quality is average not like your topical 1000”s sound bar no way the price range between 430-500 so the quality feels ok but not as premium as something you will get in a Bouse or Sonos or Samsung product. Let me tell you you are paying for sound quality and an amazing Bass. That thing is big and powerful. The sound you will get out of this thing feel the room and the house with amazing sound and bass. Don’t waste your money on the more expensive units this sound bar worth the money. Forget about cheaper sound bars this one will amaze you.

2 months in....I did tons of research into so many different setups and brands. JBL did not disappoint. I love the 4K HDR pass through ability the system provides to run all my HDMI cords through. The sound is crisp, loud, and the bass rocks my home. The system is very sleek and it mounts well to my wall under my TV. The subwoofer is nice and the star of the show. The midrange sound is good but not great, but you won’t be let down. The remote controls various aspects of the sound and inputs. I would recommend to those who are looking for a system that pounds and really brings movies and gaming to life.

My wife and I recently upgraded from a 5.1 surround sound system that was 8-9 years old to this JBL 3.1 sound bar. We looked at several systems, ranging from Bose to Sony, and even Vizio. We narrowed it down to Polk, Klipsch, and this JBL system. After reading reviews and listening to in store demos we bought the JBL...and couldn't be happier! The sound is amazing! Definitely sounds better than the 5.1 we used to have. Soft spoken words are much clearer, music sounds great, and even though we divided to go with the larger 10 inch subwoofer we don't feel like the bass is overwhelming like it sometimes did with the 5.1. Plus this sound bar has more speakers , 9 speakers vs 5 or 6 in the other 2, making it much easier to hear everything. Definitely recommend this sound bar if you're looking for a good unit at a decent price.

I listened to several sound bars in the store before making my selection of the JBL 3.1 Channel Sound Bar System. I read good reviews on line about this sound bar and the in store listening test sealed the deal. I felt like it was a good balance of sound quality, volume and price. Easy to set up and get my remote to work the volume control.

If you are looking for a soundbar that sounds good and has a heart pounding subwoofer then look no further. I had previously bought the top of the line LG sounbar to along side my LG g5" c9 TV, while the soundbar cost me $800+ it lacked the low frequency bass i was looking for. I took it back 2 days later after 2 days of researching for soundbars that had a big wireless subwoofer(the lg unit had an 8" subwoofer). The JBL 3.1 bar subwoofer is a 10" wireless subwoofer the digs deep in the low frequency range. Probably the best soundbar subwoofer combination for the price point of $400, which is what i paid for it at that time. I would recommend this soundbar to anyone thats in the market for a soundbar, as i believe this rivals higher priced soundbars.

I had an LG I purchased with my 65 inch 4K tv. It was lousy. I upgraded to this JBL and what a difference. Sound is amazing with lots of bass to fill a small room. Great system for the price.

This isn't a soundbar. It's home theater in a box. Set it to "Sports" with Bass+10> and you'll be reminded why you gladly paid $500 for a 450w system with a 10" sub. Ya boi reaches 35hz... 6/5. Unreal.

Day 1 of owning, only reviewing because i’m very impressed.4/5 because nothing is perfect. althought id give 5/5 for being best in class and price point. First off, i’d like to say there was really no budget in mind when i started looking at sound bars. I started looking at magnolia’s bleh... not worth the money honestly. The sony st5000 on display was cool with the demos they had playing, very intricate yet i discovered the tuning to be rather weak/soft. I say this because in the middle of my demo about 4 displays down, the samsung harmon/kardon hwn850 5.1 caught my attention completely over powered that sony 7.1 system with their boeing 747 demo which sounded so real and soooo goooood. now onto the cheap JBL 3.1 for 300$ which really surprised me once installed in my living room 25’x30’. FYI not advertised, but this is also a harmon/kardon set up. pretty clean highs and mids comparable to any premium car stereo that comes in any new silverado(bose) or tundra/tacoma(jbl) etc. Im proud to say the rumbles the room, especially if you have wood floors. heres the catch, it will only do so when turned up to atleast 25(half way). it’s strong side is definitely music, but dont let the 3.1 scare you for home entertainment if you just want something cheaper to start with. im not new to sound bars, but this is my first purchase of one(mainly because i dont want a toddler knocking over expensive stereo equipment). I spent a lot of time deciding what i wanted. sound bars are practical and not necessarily true sound but, especially w/ youngins around, they can still impress. this jbl is no comparison true 5.1 or 7.1.. BUT for 3.1 and 300$ it serves very well. u can play music loud enough to shake the walls for house parties or feel like you’re in a movie theater. If you want anything louder/cleaner i would look to bigger harmon/kardon series which is in association with samsung. the samsung is just badged with a price tag but true harmon/kardon “JBL”. OR the bose 500/700 with the subwoofer series really caught my attention. this jbl system is hiding behind a 65” sony bravia. sounds 100 times better. perfect add on to any home especially with the 300$ price tag right now, i really don't think the quality can be beat. and like i said if youre worried about kids breaking things, it is after all only 300 bucks!

I was looking to replace an old standard receiver and speakers for our master bedroom. Wanted something that packed a punch that didn't break the bank. Spent 45 minutes reading the reviews and decided on this JBL set up. The reviews were spot on! The clarity of the soundbar AND the incredible sub woofer are more than enough to fill out our master bedroom with great sound. Set up was rather simple. I also use the soundbar to stream music from my phone. I can't state enough how strong the bass is on this system. Better than systems costing twice as much. And now I see they have reduced the price further for the holidays. Buy it now, you won't regret it

I was very impressed with the setup. Not only with the TV but with my phone. Extremely easy to use. Has great USB ports and quality ports. I mean for a sound bar. I would not recommend plugging a 4K device into the back ports. If your TV is limited with 4K USB ports I recommend using an optic cable for this sound bar. The sound bar itself is mid level at best. However, where this unit really goes to work is with the sub woofer. The two combine for some amazing sound. The bass of even the smallest things like footsteps in a movie. All the way to explosions make this pair a great buy.

Let me say this thing Rocks with bass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was blown away by the bass on this unit and the sound bar is crystal clear. There is plenty of power with this unit. 450 watts total. 300 watt sub-woofer with a 10 inch speaker. It has 3 HDMI (ARC) / optical / 3.5mm / and a USB input. For the price I paid $329, you will not find a more affordable better sounding unit. The bass will shake your floors and walls!! If you need a new and sound bar , get this one. You will not regret it. PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS General • Total Maximun Power : 450W • Soundbar Maximum Power : 150W • Soundbar Standby Power : <0.5W • Subwoofer Maximum Power : 300W • Subwoofer Standby Power : <0.5W • Soundbar Transducer Size : 6 x 2.25" racetrack drivers 3 x 1.25" tweeter • Subwoofer Transducer Size : 10" • Max SPL : 103db • Frequency Response : 35Hz to 20KHz

My devices: Samsung TV + Nvidia Shield + PS4 (normal Version) Set up: I literally programmed nothing. TV Remote worked right out the box with this bar. I used HDMI ARC from TV to the sound Bar. Nvidia Shield on HDMI Port 1 of the TV and my PS4 on the HDMI input 2 of the Sound bar. I am only using 1 remote.... The TV remote! ** I did not even look at the instructions to connect this this thing. ** Sound Quality: the Bass actually hits hard. I bought the JBL 2.1 a couple of days ago. I loved the JBL sound so much that I got the 3.1 instead two days later. The front bar sounds amazing and it blows my 5.1 Sony wired surround out the water !! GAMING NOTE: My PS4 is connected directly to this bar and I experienced ZERO gaming lag. That's right. No video lag while playing Black Ops online. with HDMI going to the BAR first then ARC to the TV. I am truly pleased with this product. Black Friday sale week was 40% off. I would buy, recommend and will be replacing it with the exact OR higher end JBL if its struck by lightning (live in FL).

i had a samsung soundbar which has 300watts of power and it sounded so cheap and bland... comparing that to this jbl 3.1 soundbar its like comparing honda civics to a ferrari.... the sound of this jbl 3.1 is excellent... bass can rattle your walls like in a movie theatre... voice is clean and balanced... when watching netflix make sure change your audio setting from "5.1 audio" to "original" audio... you will hear the difference...best soundbar for a 300 dollar price